United States Eighth Circuit

In an employment discrimination and civil rights case brought by an Iranian former teaching assistant against a university and its dean, summary judgment for defendants is affirmed where: 1) the district court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to sanction the university for alleged spoliation of evidence; 2) for purposes of the McDonnell Douglas analysis of a Title VII retaliation claim, plaintiff did not engage in any "protected" actions as a university employee; and 3) remaining claims were meritless.

Appellate Information

• Decided 11/15/2007
• Published 11/15/2007

Judges

• BEAM, Circuit Judge., Before MURPHY, BEAM, and SHEPHERD, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Marshall R. Hoekel, argued, St. Louis, MO, for appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Nancie Divilbiss Hawke, argued (Phillip J. Hoskins, on the brief), Columbia, MO, for appellee.